
Explain or show how this evidence supports the claim.Explain or summarize the evidence that was just used.
TEXTUAL EVIDENCE EXAMPLE HOW TO
They have a hard time understanding how to explain the evidence or connect it to their claim because it’s obvious to them. Personally, this is where my students struggle the most. In a one paragraph response, I usually recommend that students break down their reasoning into three sentences: Grab it from my store and let your students grapple with this skill!

These task cards help emphasize the importance of transitions and adding explanations and analysis to one’s arguments. Students often struggle with what to say in their reasoning. it shows a piece of the play that supports the idea that Friar Laurence is most to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths.įor claim, evidence, and reasoning writing, the strength of the argument depends on its evidence. This quote comes directly from Shakespeare you can’t argue with it. This is strong evidence because the text proves it. “ In the play, Friar Laurence says to Juliet, ‘Take thou this vial, being then in bed/ And this distilled liquor drink thou off / …The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade/ … And in this borrow’d likeness of shrunk death/ Thou shalt continue two and forty hours,/And then awake as from a pleasant sleep’ (4.1.93-106).” If we continue with the Romeo and Juliet example, we could support our previous claim that Friar Laurence is most to blame for the couple’s death by presenting several pieces of evidence from the play. This creates evidence with which it is difficult to argue. I encourage my students to use word-for-word textual evidence quoted and cited from the text directly. For example, the writer may want to use quotes, paraphrasing, or a summary of events from the text. That is, the evidence should be rooted–if not directly quoted from–in the text. This can take a variety of forms: research, facts, observations, lab experiments, or even quotes from interviews or authorities.įor literary analysis, evidence should generally be textual in nature. Evidence should support it, which we’ll discuss in a moment, but ultimately, it should not be something that can be proven.Įvidence seems easy, but students always struggle with it! Provide them some extra practice with these evidence task cards. The idea can be supported by examples from the text.Ī claim is not a fact. Second, this claim is arguable–not provable–but also logical. There’s no question about what the rest of the writing will be about or will be attempting to support. This claim is strong for multiple reasons. “Friar Laurence is most to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths.” A popular essay topic when reading Romeo and Juliet poses the following question: who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?Ī claim that answers this question might read: I often have to remind my students that if they are writing in response to a question, restating the question in the form of a sentence and adding their answer is an easy way to write a claim. The body paragraphs then will each contain a sub-claim so-to-speak that supports the overarching claim or thesis.Ĭlaims, while logical, should present an arguable stance on a topic. In a standard five-paragraph essay, the first introductory paragraph may build to the claim: the thesis. The body of the paragraph then will aim to support the topic sentence (or claim). The formulaic nature of C-E-R writing makes it a helpful writing scaffold for students who struggle to organize their ideas or generate them in the first place.ĭo your students need some extra practice with understanding claims? These 24 task cards ask students to identify, evaluate, and create claims–a perfect introductory activity! Get it here!įor a paragraph, I feel the claim makes a great topic sentence and thus, should be the first sentence. Any attempt at persuasion must take a stance, support it with logic, and make a case. While C-E-R may seem formulaic at first, it does come from a natural flow of solid arguments. You wouldn’t, for instance, probably use claims, evidence, or reasoning in a creative writing class or with a narrative or poetry unit. Note that these are academic forms of writing. The words “claim”, “evidence”, and “reasoning” are directly from the standards themselves.Ĭ-E-R writing works especially well for argumentative or persuasive writing, but also holds true for research-based writing.

This printable breaks down C-E-R writing for your students at a glance.Ī C-E-R writing framework works especially well for teachers adhering to the Common Core State Standards.
TEXTUAL EVIDENCE EXAMPLE FREE
Need a quick reference guide to claim, evidence, and reasoning? Grab my FREE printable guide from Teachers Pay Teachers.
